Forerunners of Faith- Beginning of the Race

Hey everyone! 

It’s almost go time! If everything goes according to plan, our squad of 38 people should be heading out to Nicaragua early tomorrow morning!!!

This last week has been a time of training at Adventures in Missions main campus in Gainesville, GA. Our whole squad got here and has been living in a bubble for the last week. During this time, we’ve had lots of different teachings, activities, and times to just get to know each other. 

This training camp is both very similar and very different to what I experienced here last year. The similar things are that we’re in the same building, some of the same leaders, same teachings. So many of the people in the squad are experiencing who the Holy Spirit is for the first time. They get to learn how to hear the Lord’s voice and hear Him speak to them personally. 

I would say there are more differences than similarities though. I’m in a completely different perspective than I was even just a year ago. 

The day before the racers got here, there was a change in leadership. Some things were switched around, but basically, I was put onto a new team that was expecting to have a different leader. Now I’m the leader for a team of five amazing people who are so hungry for the Lord. Being in this position of leadership has really shown me another side of what it looks like to lead. I’ve had lots of experience in leadership roles in the past through Boy Scouts and working at camps, but somehow this is so different than ever before. In all of those roles, I just had to get a job done. And I was really focused on doing my job well. It was all performance based. And I really felt that pressure coming down on me. 

In this role, I get to be myself. Before, I was just trying to be a robot getting stuff done, but here I get to relax, be who the Lord has called me to be, and pour into people. As a team leader, I get to focus on the 5 people that I’m immediately interacting with. I get to be a person. 

The Lord has created you with specific aspects of Himself that He has placed in you. He made you to be you. He has called you because He wants you. He is the one who places authority, so if He has placed you somewhere in a leadership role, He wants you there for a reason. 

I’m starting to realize that I can be fully myself. With all the good, the bad, the fun, the deep, the hurt, and unique parts that I have. 

Now don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t grow. He is continually calling us higher to look like Him. There are aspects in everyone’s life where we need to begin the process to look more like Him. But praise the Lord that we have the Holy Spirit who convicts!! Who can call us higher through His voice directly to you or through other people. 

I’m so excited to get started on the next part of my journey tomorrow. There’s a whole lot coming though…

We need to get our Covid tests back in time, otherwise we can’t go on our flights. And if even 1 of the 38 tests is positive, we all quarantine here in Gainesville for another week. We have to fly into Costa Rica and bus across the border to Nicaragua. Countries in that region began changing Covid restrictions again yesterday, so we aren’t even sure they’ll be the same by tomorrow. I have also been put into a logistics role for the whole squad, where Steadman (another leader) and I are taking lead of the organizing and traveling for everyone on our squad. So now these logistical nightmares actually affect me!!!

In order for us to get to Nicaragua tomorrow, there are a lot of moving parts that need to line up. Parts that I have no control of. More joys of traveling in a global pandemic! I’m starting to see why no other organization is traveling right now!

I am really excited the Lord has given me the opportunity to lead and guide a team during these next 6 months. It’s a little scary for sure, but I know I’m here for a reason. Our team name is “Forerunners of Faith”. We came to that name through the many prophetic words and verses the Lord gave us. It’s almost go time!

Please be praying that the next 30 hours go as we need it to. Be praying that the Lord uses me. 

In the same manner, I’ll be praying that the Lord reveals Himself to you all in a new way. That you see how beautifully He’s created you to fulfill the work that He has placed in front of you. It’s such an honor and joy to serve Him. 

Thank you for all the ways you support me. I couldn’t do this without all of you back home guiding, supporting, and loving me through this amazing journey of life.